Looking back, it was all like a fairyland.

To reach such power within a thousand years is not much different from being born a god. The contrast between power and time makes it seem even more exaggerated. However, so what if Su Mu was once the "protagonist"? He has now transcended that role. And the world is certainly not as extreme as the grotto-heaven; Li Shu was an exception, and Su Mu will not be the only one. Why did the innate gods either flee into the void or cower in hiding? It was because the world felt that while these innate gods could help it, they were too one-dimensional. If problems arose, these innate gods would only perish with the world, rather than fight for survival.

Even the most powerful beings among the innate deities are no exception. Their departure was a deal with the world, which can be seen as the world's backup plan. If the beings of this era fail, there is still a contingency plan. The world's structure is never singular; even in this era, various systems flourish—immortals, Buddhas, demons, monsters, monsters, gods, and humans.

Su Mu hadn't forgotten the boy he met in the small town. It was that boy who showed him that the world wasn't as stagnant as they thought, but rather constantly innovating. That small-town boy was a thread; perhaps in the future, immortals and gods would disappear, and a different form, distinct from the innate deities who controlled nature and its rules, would emerge. In his previous life, this state was called "technology."

The heterochromatic-eyed youth encountered in the ghost market of the Netherworld represents another thread. The age of human-god symbiosis isn't much less advanced than the age of technology. This is what Su Mu encountered; what else hasn't he encountered? No one knows how many hidden threads the universe has buried within the world. At such moments, Su Mu couldn't help but marvel at the world's foresight, a grand blueprint beyond human reach. Just a glimpse of it fills one with awe.

This completely overturned Su Mu's imagination. When she first came through, she had thought she was the protagonist of the world, conquering the world, achieving the highest level of success, controlling the world—all the stories in novels. But now, such thoughts were completely gone. The world was far more far-sighted than she had imagined, as evidenced by her own willingness to take the plunge.

Although the world can be a bit stingy sometimes—it'll strike you with lightning if you see its true face—and although Su Mu jokingly says the world is like a young wife, what young wife would dare to scrape her bones to cure poison? When it comes to foresight, Su Mu might not even be able to match him. When it comes to planning, if Su Mu didn't sense the changes in fate and have the foresight to seek benefits and avoid harm; if Su Mu's existence wasn't a good thing for the world, with his wisdom, he could be schemed by the world to his death without even realizing it.

Thanks to his strength, and thanks to his own resolute character, even if he was the protagonist, it would not matter. The world was completely unable to control him, and he could instead teach him a lesson, making him less sensitive, at least less sensitive to his prying eyes.

Shenlong knew Su Mu was probably right. However, he didn't have much affection for the world. If he hadn't known the world couldn't control Su Mu, he wouldn't be so happy right now. Because in the world's eyes, you get what you pay for, and these things aren't so easy to come by. However, following Su Mu made it easy. He felt at ease with what he had received. This wasn't given by the world, but earned through his own efforts.

The world isn't naive. Wasn't that inevitable war a low-cost test? Their attitude towards the innate deities was also a form of resourceful utilization. They were shrewd.

"How much longer will Xuanmo last?" the old goat asked.

"It'll be within one or two months, at most two months." Su Mu was still able to sense the progress of Xuanmo accommodating the water veins.

Two months isn't long.

They wouldn't stay in this country for long, only two months, and everyone knew they couldn't get too deeply involved.

"That's a pity." After learning about the Four Buddha Temple, Cao Chen had originally intended to visit and learn from them. But with less than two months to go, he decided against it, considering it a time for rest and recuperation.

With two months to go, there was no need for the four of them to stay together; they could each do their own thing. After finishing their meal, Shenlong left first. As he had mentioned before, he needed to find a gift for Xuan Mo. It had to be something that would please Xuan Mo, and not be too shabby. He would have to go to the cave. Cao Chen planned to follow Su Mu. As for Su Mu, he didn't have much else to do.

After leaving the restaurant, Su Mu found a teahouse and listened to some books and music. He hadn't been this relaxed for a long time, and it was a bit strange. He had been wandering around, and suddenly stopped, feeling a little dazed. He could just call it early adaptation. The world continued to function without him, and Su Mu was gradually regaining his former state of mind.

The teahouse was bustling with activity. Due to the recent unexpected events in the war, involving princes, assassins, generals, and the power struggles between nations, all sorts of gossip was flying everywhere. Famous teahouses were adept at seizing this opportunity, spinning different versions of the story, expanding and perfecting these rumors into a single narrative. Of course, these stories couldn't possibly contain real names or places, and even the background had been changed, but the story remained the same, with a clear allusion, yet it sounded strangely familiar and impeccable.

And this adaptation isn't just random. These writers have managed to arrange the characters of the prince, the foreign enemy, the assassin, General Li, and Little General Li in a remarkably logical yet engaging way. Episode after episode, chapter after chapter, coupled with the storyteller's eloquence, is truly captivating. Against the backdrop of major national events, suspenseful incidents unfold, each of which weaves together to form a grand narrative. The story unfolds in a tortuous sequence, and every character—whether fictional or based on a real person—is relatable, delightful, deeply hateful, or deeply moving, all brought to life through the storyteller's unspoken voice.

This story went viral. Unbeknownst to Su Mu, the teahouse was already packed when he arrived. If Dr. Tea hadn't saved a seat for Su Mu, a generous regular, he might not have been able to get in.

At first, the storybooks might have held some resemblance to the real world, but eventually, they lost all trace of it. With the money, they naturally hired more people, and these writers brainstormed and wrote stories about otherworldly oddities. Su Mu was naturally delighted. It was actually not much different from listening to a novel, and the storytellers were talented, skilled ventriloquists. They mimicked every character, every sound of wind and rain, with exquisite fidelity. Combined with the dramatic twists and turns of the plot, it was a thrilling experience.

The storyteller slammed his gavel, jolting the audience awake from their reverie. Still savoring the story, he chuckled and said, "To find out what happens next, please listen to the next installment."